Training

When it comes to improving your overall fitness, nothing else in this world can do it better than regular exercise. Whether you are a child, a teenager, an adult, or a senior citizen, exercising regularly offers a slew of tremendous health benefits that are great for both the mind and body.

But the thing about fitness is that it’s a broad topic that contains a plethora of exercises, workouts, or training methods, and there’s always a specific type of exercise or workout that suits a particular individual’s body type or health condition.

For people of all shapes and sizes who want to improve their cardiovascular fitness and physical well-being in an intense yet rewarding way, there’s a hugely popular fitness regimen called CrossFit that excels in that regard.

If you don’t know that much about CrossFit other than its name, here’s a brief introduction for you.

So… what is CrossFit?

Developed over several decades by Greg Glassman, CrossFit is a training program that, if done the right way, can effectively improve the strength and conditioning of an individual.

If you’re wondering why I mentioned that correctness is the key when it comes to CrossFit, it’s because every workout in this fitness regimen is based on several functional movements that should be done quickly and at high intensity for the best results. Basically, if you don’t follow the rules of CrossFit workouts, then you won’t be reaping its remarkable benefits anytime soon.

One of the best things about the CrossFit program is that it’s designed for universal scalability, making it applicable for individuals of any size and shape. This means that a CrossFit trainer will prescribe a particular workout for an individual that is scalable depending on their skill level, not on their size, age, or gender.

Another great thing about CrossFit is that the program focuses on building the body as a whole and doesn’t limit itself in specialising in one specific area, which means that it is capable of making you stronger, tougher, fitter, and more toned all in one through its various high intensity exercises.

Also, CrossFit borrows elements from other fitness programs, which kind of makes it a mash-up of other workouts that are proven to be effective. And the functional movements that CrossFit workouts are based on reflect the finest aspects of rowing, running, weightlifting, and gymnastics, among others.

What does a CrossFit class look like?

As for the typical structure of a CrossFit class, it usually includes the following: an introduction class, an On Ramps/Elements course, and regular classes.

Introduction classes are for those who are going to try CrossFit for the very first time. It usually includes a quick overview and a basic body weight movement workout. After that, they will talk to you about joining for good so you can finally proceed to the On Ramp/Elements course. Some CrossFit gyms offer free-of-charge introduction classes.

An On Ramps/Elements course is the prerequisite class before you can finally move on to the regular classes. This course is mostly about the fundamentals of CrossFit because you’ll be learning about everything from the program’s nine foundational movements to proper form. All of the stuff you will be learning in an On Ramps/Elements course is essential to help you perform each workout correctly, and even the most experienced fitness enthusiasts will learn a thing or two in here.

Regular classes last anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour. Every student starts at the same time, with instructors always roaming around to keep track and help out the students. The atmosphere in regular classes is generally supportive and encouraging, as both the students and instructors are always willing to help out each other.

Where can I do CrossFit workouts?

CrossFit workouts can be done in a CrossFit gym, in a commercial gym, or at home. But for optimal results, it’s highly recommended to do the workouts in a commercial gym or a CrossFit gym, because in both locations you will be having the following: instructors to check your form, fellow students to motivate you, and equipment to execute the workouts.

If you’re worried about your availability to work out during regular hours, you don’t have to worry about a thing because there are some 24 hour fitness gyms here in Australia that offer CrossFit classes at different time slots. This type of gym is also great for those who simply just want to work out, because their 24-hour availability means that you can visit at any hour you’re available – and that they have personal trainers available at any time to help you out with anything from bodybuilding exercises to strength training workouts to weight training techniques.